We’re wrongly accused by the police, say suspects

Four suspects yesterday told an Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court that the robbery charge levelled against them by the police is false.

Ilesanmi Oluwadare (39), Faleye Akintunde (29), Seun Adegbola (30) and Oluchi Simon said they were not part of any robbery and did not know one another.

The suspects, who insisted on their innocence, were accused of robbing Chief Ajayi Ayodeji of his traditional beads, wristwatch, handset and money on September 3 at Sajalo Villa in Ilegbe Quartres, Ifaki-Ekiti.

Faleye told The Nation tearfully that he was a motor mechanic in Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, adding that he was arrested in Ido-Ekiti.

He said: “I never stole a pin in my life and I have never been to a police station for any offence. I do not know any of these guys with whom I am being charged for armed robbery. I went to greet my elder brother, Gbenga, in Ido-Ekiti.

“Immediately I came down from the motorcycle in Ido that day, they arrested me. I did not know what my offence is. I contacted my sister and they told her to pay N6,000. She paid N4,000 and begged them to release me, but they detained me because of N2000. The second day, they transferred me from Ido to the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Ado-Ekiti.”

Adegbola said he was also arrested in Ido at Number M3 around the Central Mosque.

He said: “Around 8:30pm, I was in front of my house at No M3 when the divisional police officer, who was passing by, pointed a torch in my face. I responded by pointing a torch at him too, as I did not know who he was.

“Angered, he ordered one of his men to arrest me. I shouted and people came out to see what was going on. They did not allow him to arrest me. But he came back around 12:30am and took me to Ido Police Station. The following day, he called SARS from Ado-Ekiti and they took me away.”

Ilesanmi said he was on his way to see his relations in Ido from Ondo State when he was arrested.

He said: “I got to Ifaki around 9pm and went to a store to buy satchet water. I was drinking it when the police arrested me. I do not know what to do now.”

Oluchi said she was arrested for buying an allegedly stolen Techno phone.

She said she explained to the police that she did not know the phone was stolen, yet they arrested her.

Oluchi said: “I explained to them how it all went but they insisted on arresting me. I am a housewife and three months pregnant. They kept punishing me until I lost the baby.”